Wisconsin & Michigan Railway
| Wisconsin & Michigan Railway | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||||||||||
| Other name(s) | W&M | ||||||||||
| Status | Defunct | ||||||||||
| Locale | Wisconsin & Michigan | ||||||||||
| Service | |||||||||||
| Type | Heavy Rail | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Commenced | 1894 | ||||||||||
| Planned opening | 1893 | ||||||||||
| Completed | 1908 | ||||||||||
| Closed | 1938 | ||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||
| Line length | 114 mi (183 km) | ||||||||||
| Track length | 132.25 mi (212.84 km) | ||||||||||
| Number of tracks | 1 | ||||||||||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||
| Old gauge | 3 ft (914 mm) | ||||||||||
| Electrification | no | ||||||||||
| Signalling | dark | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
The Wisconsin & Michigan Railway (W&M) was incorporated October 26, 1893, under the general laws of Wisconsin for the purpose of constructing, maintaining, and operating a railroad as described in its articles of incorporation.[1]
Incorporation to 1900
[edit]Early history
[edit]The W&M railway acquired six railroad corporations by purchasing their property, rights, and franchises.[2] The railway also purchased the railroad property of the Peshtigo Lumber Company of Peshtigo, Wi.[3] The W&M Railway was conceived in 1893 by John N Faithorn, a railroad tycoon from Chicago, Il. His idea was to build a railroad connect the iron-rich Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with the steel mills in cities using both railroads and lake ferries.[4]
First track is laid (1894)
[edit]This railroad began building from the Soo Line railroad at Faithorn Junction in Wisconsin south about five miles. Faithorn was named for J. Nathan Faithorn, an official of the railroad.[5] The initial ending point was the Ingalls, White Rapids & Northern Logging railway aka IWR&N. This location would later become known as Bagley_Junction.[6]
A five-mile section of the IWR&N was standard gauged from Ingalls, Michigan to the Menominee River, the state line.[7] A bridge was built in 1894 to cross the Menominee River at Koss, Michigan to Wagner, Wisconsin.[8]
On December 2, 1894, the Wisconsin & Michigan Railway began passenger service from Peshtigo, Wi to Faithorn Junction and two days later followed with freight trains.[9]
Line south to Peshtigo (1884)
[edit]The railway had been unable to get dock frontage in Marinette or Menominee for its planned ferry service so the W&M instead purchased a line south to the harbor at Petshigo, Wi.[10]
Ferry service begins (1895)
[edit]Begun in 1895 by a newly formed subsidiary of the Wisconsin and Michigan Railway: Lake Michigan Car Ferry Transportation Company (LMCFT Co.).[11] Begun with a pair of wooden barges from the Peshtigo Harbor the service was run from there to South Chicago. Each barge was capable of holding 28 cars on deck, but no propulsion engine.[12]
With a newly acquired tug the LMCFT Co. inaugurated service on August 31, 1895, delivering 26 cars of coal and merchandise from South Chicago to the Wisconsin and Michigan harbor slip in Peshtigo.[13]
New locomotives arrive and lumber business expands (1895–1897)
[edit]In 1895 the W&M received a new Baldwin 10 wheeler and gave it number 8. It was too heavy for their light rail and was returned to Baldwin. They bought a smaller 10 wheeler, but it too performed poorly on the track north of Fischer. They kept the new locomotive and improved that section of track.
Ferry traffic increases (1897)
[edit]Lumber subsidiary sold (1889)
[edit]Northward extension begins and misfortunes beset railway (1898)
[edit]From the cited references - "Wisconsin and Michigan Railway will Build Thirty Miles of New Road and Iron Mountain will be its Terminus. "[14] and "Railroad scene near Quinnesec, Mich".[15] Behind the train is C&NW RR line from Quinnesec to Iron Mountain, Mi.
Walsh orders improvements (1900)
[edit]Chicago capitalist John R. Walsh, owner of the Chicago Southern railroads, owner of the Chicago Terminal Transfer, founder of the Chicago National Bank and owner of the Southern Indiana purchased a controlling interest in the Railway in October 1900. Walsh ordered a rapid series of improvements. The W&M completely rebuilt the track between Faithorn Junction and Koss, improved the entire main line with new ballast, upgraded to 75 pound rail and constructed new stations to convert the ailing W&M into a major trunk line.
1901–1910
[edit]Two branch lines added, new locomotives and cars and western division added (1901-04)
[edit]Miscauno Inn Opens & Ore Traffic Begins, Extension To Lake Superior & Walsh's Empire Collapses (1905)
[edit]Photograph of a crew employed by John Marsch to extend the Wisconsin & Michigan Railway from Faithorn Junction to Norway in 1903.[16]
Improvements initiated and railway reaches maximum size (1906–1908)
[edit]The railroad reached its maximum size in 1908, with a few logging operations on several branch lines.[17]
Stations
[edit]| Station[18][19][20] | Miles (km) | Date opened | Date closed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Mountain, Mi | 76.3 | 1938 | Freight House - H St. | |
| Fumee Creek aka Cundy Mine | 71.9 | 1938 | water tank | |
| Quinnesec, Mi | 71.8 | 1938 | ||
| Few Mine | 69.5 | 1938 | ||
| Nunro Mine | 68.9 | 1938 | ||
| Omun, Mi | 1938 | |||
| Norway, Mi | 67.9 | 1938 | ||
| Bergam, Mi | 64.1 | 1938 | Vulcan Branch - Bergam to O'Callaghan Mill Spur | |
| Loretto Junction | 63.6 | 1938 | Interchange with the C&NW Ore Line | |
| O'Callaghan, Mi | 62.8 | 1938 | crossed under the C&NW | |
| Aragon Junction | 62.1 | 1938 | Aragon branch to Aragon Mine | |
| Vista, Mi | 60.4 | 1938 | ||
| Hamlin, Mi | 52.0/58.8 | 1938 | Miles to Peshtigo / miles to Peshtigo harbor | |
| Berta, Mi | 50.0 | 1938 | ||
| Faithorn Junction, Mi | 48.5 | 1938 | Soo Line Railroad connection | |
| Blum, Mi | 46.5 | 1938 | ||
| Brooks, Mi | 46.0 | 1938 | ||
| Bird, Mi | 45.5 | 1938 | ||
| Houte, Mi | 43.5 | 1938 | ||
| Hammond "Y" | 41.0 | 1938 | ||
| Nathan, Mi | 40.5 | 1938 | ||
| Everett Junction, Mi | 40.0 | 1938 | Walton branch - 22.1 mi. | |
| Arnold, Mi | 39.25 | 1938 | ||
| Gardner, Mi | 38.0 | 1938 | ||
| Ames, Mi | 34.25 | 1938 | ||
| Swanson, Mi | 33.25 | 1938 | ||
| Kells, Mi | 30.5 | 1938 | ||
| Longrie, Mi | 28 | 1938 | ||
| Koss, Mi | 26.5 | 1938 | ||
| Menominee River bridge[21] | 1894 | 1991 | converted to road use 1938; Replaced 1991[22] | |
| Packard, Wi | 23 | 1938 | ||
| McAllister, Wi | 21 | 1938 | ||
| Wagner, Wi | 19 | 1938 | ||
| Goll, Wi | 17.75 | 1938 | ||
| Kinsman, Wi | 16.5 | 1938 | ||
| Miles, Wi | 14.5 | 1938 | ||
| Twin Creek, Wi | 13 | 1938 | Lake Noquebay Branch | |
| Walsh, Wi | 11 | 1938 | ||
| Bagley Junction, Wi | 6 | 1938 | Milwaukee Road interchange. 8.5 miles to Menominee, Mi | |
| Knox, Wi | 1.75 | 1938 | ||
| Peshtigo, Wi | 0 | 1938 | Interchange with the C&NW | |
| Places Rapids, Wi | -3.1 | 1938 | ||
| Peshtigo Harbor, Wi | -6.1 | 1938 |
Financier Sent To Prison & Railway Service Reduced - 1910
[edit]John Walsh was the financier chiefly responsible for the 1900 upgrading and re-equipping the railroad. He began serving a 5 year prison term at Leavenworth for loaning himself millions of dollars from his Chicago National Bank and used it to develop his various railroads.
1911 - 1938
[edit]Marsch Buys Entire Railway - 1917
[edit]On June 13, 1916, the railway line extended from Peshtigo Harbor, Wisconsin, to Iron Mountain, Michigan, with branch lines extending from Everett, Aragon Junction, and Bergam, Michigan. A total of 114 miles of mainline and 17 miles of yard and sidings.[23]
Shops Move To Menominee & Equipment & Trackage Sold - 1918
[edit]Ferry Automobile Traffic Increases - 1919
[edit]Congressman Frank D. Scott helped the railroad obtained more favorable freight rates. Businessmen from Chicago and Minneapolis were persuaded by Menominee and Marinette shippers to route their freight via the W&M which increased between the Ann Arbor ferry slip at Menominee and the rest of their railway and onward to the Soo Line as well. Automobiles transported from lower Michigan factories to Minneapolis and the Northwest was a big boost to the railroad. Some traffic from Ohio and Michigan agricultural implements and machinery grew this volume following the Ann Arbor - W&M - Soo Line route. A heavy traffic in automobiles, covered with tarps were shipped on flat cars or in boxcars. A record load was hauled On June 7, 1920 - 90 new Dort automobiles on 31 flat cars to the Soo Line. Lumber for Ford Motor company was also hauled to be forwarded by the Ann Arbor Railroad ferrys.[24]
The railroad opened business offices in Pittsburgh, Dayton, Detroit, Minneapolis and Seattle. They began using the motto "Short Route To and From The Northwest" in advertising.
More New Locomotives Arrive - 1920
[edit]The Commercial Atlas of America; Rand McNally Black and White Mileage Map, Michigan 1924 edition has an excellent depiction of the railroad's mainline.[25]
Depression Doomed Railway - 1929
[edit]The Wisconsin & Michigan Railway was unable to find a buyer for the line, applied for abandonment on April 10, 1937.[26]
On January 20, 1938, the ICC authorized the Wisconsin & Michigan Railway abandonment.[27] The Chicago & North Western Railroad bought the Menominee W. & M. Railroad property in early 1939.[28]
Further reading
[edit]
Railways portal- Bridgehunter.com | Wisconsin & Michigan Railroad
- Wisconsin & Michigan Railway map
- WikiProject Trains/ICC valuations/Wisconsin and Michigan Railway
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. WI-60, "Wisconsin-Michigan Railroad Bridge, Spanning Menominee River, on County Trunk Highway JJ, Wagner, Marinette County, WI", 24 photos, 34 data pages, 2 photo caption pages
- Schmidt, Floyd (January 1, 2016). The Wisconsin & Michigan Railway : from precarious beginning to sustained tribulation. Eagle River, WI. p. 214. ISBN 978-0692769645.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) History of a small regional railroad in the area straddling states of Wisconsin & Michigan. Black and white photos throughout. Glossy paper. - Richard, McLeod (April 1968). "History of the Wisconsin and Michigan Railway". The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin. 118 (118). Railway & Locomotive Historical Society (R&LHS): 7–20. JSTOR 43518245. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
Chicago railroadman John N. Faithorn and his financial backers conceived of the Wisconsin and Michigan Railway as part of a railroad-car ferry transportation system which would connect the rich iron and timber lasnds of Michigan's Northern Peninsula with Chicago steel plants and lumber markets.
- Schmidt, Floyd (January 1, 2016). The Wisconsin & Michigan Railway : from precarious beginning to sustained tribulation. Eagle River, WI. p. 214. ISBN 978-0692769645.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) History of a small regional railroad in the area straddling states of Wisconsin & Michigan. Black and white photos throughout. Glossy paper.
References
[edit]- ^ Schmidt, Floyd (2016). The Wisconsin & Michigan Railway : from precarious beginning to sustained tribulation. Eagle River, WI. ISBN 978-0692769645.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ DECISIONS OF THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION (Volume 141 ed.). INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION REPORTS. March–June 1928. p. 891. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ "Wisconsin & Michigan Purchase the Peshtigo Lumber Line". Range-Trbune. Vol. XVII, no. 10. June 22, 1895. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ "The Wisconsin & Michigan Railway". Forgotten Railways, Roads & Places. Abandoned Rail Lines. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ Romig, L.H.D., Walter (1986). Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities (PDF). Detroit, Mi: Wayne State University. p. 191. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ "Seventy Miles of Steel Rails Purchased -- Bridges Contracted For". Vol. XV, no. 45. Range-Tribune. February 17, 1894. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ McLeod, Richard (April 1968). "History of the Wisconsin and Michigan Railway". The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin (118). Railway & Locomotive Historical Society: 7–20. JSTOR 43518245.
- ^ "Wisconsin-Michigan Railroad Bridge, Spanning Menominee River, on County Trunk Highway "JJ", Wagner, Marinette County, WI". Library of Congress. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ Burger, Henry F. "LINE SOUTH TO PESHTIGO - 1884". HISTORY OF THE WISCONSIN AND MICHIGAN RAILWAY. Trainweb. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ McLeod, Richard (April 1968). "History of the Wisconsin and Michigan Railway". The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin (118). Railway & Locomotive Historical Society: 7–20. JSTOR 43518245. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ Hilton, George W. (Dec 24, 2019). Fick, Dean K. (ed.). The Great Lakes Car Ferries. Manassas, VA: Montevallo Historical Press. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ "ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF LAKE MICHIGAN CAR FERRY SERVICE" (PDF). Michigan Department of State Highways and Transportation. December 1976. p. 15. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ Burger, Henry F. "FERRY SERVICE BEGINS - 1895". HISTORY OF THE WISCONSIN AND MICHIGAN RAILWAY. Trainweb. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ "New Railroad for Iron Mountain in the Early Spring". Vol. XIX, no. 38. Range-Tribune. January 15, 1898. p. 5. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ "Railroad scene near Quinnesec, Mich. :: Dickinson County Photos & Postcards". updigit.uproc.lib.mi.us. Upper Peninsula Digitization Center. 1911. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
Postcard view of a Wisconsin & Michigan Railway engine, coal tender and two passenger cars traveling east, having just crossed the bridge over Fumee Falls near Quinnesec. "R R Scene Near Quinnesec Mich" is printed on the photograph.
- ^ "Extension of the Wisconsin Michigan Railway from Norway to Quinnesec :: Dickinson County Photos & Postcards". updigit.uproc.lib.mi.us. Norway, Mi: Upper Peninsula Regional Digitization Center. 1903. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ FRRandP (19 November 2020). "The Wisconsin & Michigan Railway". Forgotten Railways, Roads & Places. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ Wisconsin & Michigan Railroad (1923). "Wisconsin & Michigan Railroad map". Wisconsin Historical Society. Menominee, Mich.: Wisconsin & Michigan Railroad Co. Archived from the original on September 14, 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "Timetable: Wisconsin & Michigan - Peshtigo Harbor to Iron Mountain". www.michiganrailroads.com. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ Allen, W. F., ed. (January 1895). The Official Railway Guide: North American Freight Service Edition. NYC, New York: National Railway Publication Company. p. 433. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ Kromm, Diane (November 1989). "Wisconsin & Michigan Railroad Bridge" (PDF). Historic American Engineering Record. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
The Wisconsin & Michigan Railroad Bridge is an example of a pin-connected Pratt through truss, a standard design used during the late 19th century. The bridge is unusual, in that it consists of two unequal spans, one measuring 162 feet and the other 221 feet. The long span may be one of the longest Pratt through trusses in Wisconsin and Michigan. In addition, the bridge is one of only a few extant trusses built before 1900. The history of the railroad bridge documents the development and decline of the logging industry in northern Wisconsin and Michigan.
- ^ "Koss Bridge". Bridgehunter.com. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ Valuation Docket No. 320 (Volume 141 ed.). INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION. March–June 1928. p. 877. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ "First Shipment Of Ford Lumber From Iron Mountain Arrives For Ann Arbor". MARINETTE EAGLE-STAR. July 29, 1921. p. 2.
- ^ "Michigan Railways 1924". www.davidrumsey.com. David Rumsey Historical Map Collection. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
The Commercial Atlas of America; Rand McNally Black and White Mileage Map
- ^ "Seek Permission To Abandon Lines". Madison, Wi: The Oshkosh Northwestern. Associated Press. April 10, 1937. p. 17.
- ^ "Approve Wisconsin and Michigan Ry. Line Abandonment". The Daily Tribune. Wisconsin Rapids, Wi. Associated Press. January 20, 1938. p. 5. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ "North Western Buys Menominee W. & M. Rr. Property From John Marsch". MARINETTE EAGLE-STAR. January 16, 1939. p. 1.